Timer having a variable mode display

Abstract

A timer includes a timing device that generates first and second time counts responsive to user input. A display is provided that displays the first time count in one of a first set of time units and a second set of time units. A user actuatable device is operatively connected to said display and causes the display to clear the first time count and display the second time count.

I claim: 
     
       1. A timer comprising:
 a timing device that generates first and second time counts responsive to user input; 
 a display that displays the first time count in a first set of time units and the second count in a set of time units; and 
 a user actuatable device operatively connected to said display that causes the display to toggle between the first time count and the second time count and to convert the first count from the first set of time units to the second set of time units, wherein said timing device continues to perform the first time count after toggling between the first time count and the second time count. 
 
     
     
       2. The timer of  claim 1  further comprising a user actuatable device that causes the timing device to convert the second count from the second set of time units to the first set of time units. 
     
     
       3. A timer comprising:
 a timing device that generates first and second time counts responsive to user input, the first and second time counts being a descending time counts, said timing device generating a first alarm when the first time count reaches zero and a second alarm when the second time count reaches zero; 
 a display that displays the first time count in one of a first set of time units and a second set of time units; and 
 a user actuatable device operatively connected to said display that causes the display to toggle between the first time count and the second time count. 
 
     
     
       4. The timer of  claim 3  wherein said timing device initiates an up count after the second alarm is generated. 
     
     
       5. The timer of  claim 3  wherein the first alarm is different from the second alarm. 
     
     
       6. A method of operation of a countdown timer comprising:
 performing a descending time count responsive to user initiation; 
 displaying the time count in a first set of time units; 
 converting the displayed time count from a first set of time units to a second set of time units 
 generating an alarm when the time count reaches zero; and 
 performing an ascending time count after generating the alarm without user initiation. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the first set of time units is hours/minutes and displaying the time count includes displaying the time count in seconds only during the last minute of the time count.